Indian poet rejects US-backed award in solidarity with Palestinian children

Indian poet and author from an Indigenous community Jacinta Kerketta has turned down a prestigious US-backed literary award, citing her solidarity with the Palestinian children and women in Gaza killed by Israel with American military support.

Jacinta Kerketta, 41, has refused the 2024 Room to Read Young Author Award, jointly awarded by USAID and Room to Read India Trust for her children’s poetry collection, Jirhul.

Room to Read India is an international nonprofit working in the areas of early-grade literacy, gender equality, and girls’ education. “I declined this award because USAID (U.S. Aid for International Development) is associated with Room to Read India Trust,” she told media outlets.

“When I got information about the award for children’s literature, I felt that it was more important to speak for the children of Palestine than to receive an award.”

She also raised concerns over the links of the international nonprofit itself, as it has been collaborating with Boeing, which is a sponsor of some of its literacy programs in India.

In August last year, the then Indian minister of women and child development and minority affairs, Smriti Irani, announced the launch of two initiatives in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, in partnership with Boeing. According to a Boeing India statement, the group was funding Room to Read’s literacy programme, which was to be implemented in 60 primary schools over four years to “nurture independent readers”.

Boeing is said to be a key supplier of weapons to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and has a longstanding partnership with Israel.

Ms Kerketta said: “When children were being killed in Palestine, Room to Read India Trust in India was collaborating with Boeing for better education of children. And Boeing’s relationship with Israel is linked to arms business.” “I rejected this award to show my solidarity with the children, women.”

Originally from Jharkhand state in eastern India, the poet is a member of the minority Adivasi community — India’s marginalized indigenous people who traditionally live in and around forest areas.

“Adivasi people are struggling for their survival along with saving nature. They’re always an advocate of human freedom,” she said.

“My community gives me the courage to show solidarity with those fighting for their freedom.”

Ms Kerketta has written to both USAID and the Room to Read India Trust, declining the award and explaining her reasons for doing so. Ms Kerketta has authored seven other books, including Ishwar aur Bazar, Jacinta ki Diary, and Land of the Roots.

“I see many people in India remain silent about the genocide in Palestine. Just as there is hatred for minorities within the country, similarly there is no sympathy for the people of Palestine. As a poet and writer, this also troubles me,” Ms Kerketta said.

Her poetry collection, Jirhul, aims to raise socio-political awareness among children, drawing from Adivasi culture. It was published earlier this year by Jugnu Prakashan, the publishing arm of Iktara Trust, based in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.